as in prophylactic
concerned with or serving to keep something from happening
the department in charge of taking preventative measures against international terrorism
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as in preventive
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preventative
Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
This essential mental refreshment is a powerful preventative against burnout and directly injects new vitality into your creative process.
—Kice Akkawi, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Currently, people of African decent comprise 2% or less of the global genomic data — information that is essential to understanding risks of certain diseases and other ailments and is key to crafting effective treatments and preventative measures.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preventative
Adjective
Evans called those measures reactive instead of preventative.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
This essential mental refreshment is a powerful preventative against burnout and directly injects new vitality into your creative process.
—Kice Akkawi, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
Noun
Regular vaccinations could stay infections Experts across the board recommended keeping up with local flu vaccine schedules as a preventative measure.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Currently, people of African decent comprise 2% or less of the global genomic data — information that is essential to understanding risks of certain diseases and other ailments and is key to crafting effective treatments and preventative measures.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preventative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preventative
Adjective
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One cup of cooked oatmeal already provides about six grams of protein, Stephani Johnson, RDN, DCN, an adjunct professor of clinical and preventive nutrition services at the Rutgers School of Health Professions, told Verywell.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
24 Oct. 2025
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Other preventive measures include not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Elmahdi is being charged with operating while intoxicated with passengers under 16 years of age, possession of THC, reckless driving endangering safety, operating while suspended, operating without insurance and a child safety restraint violation.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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According to Hochul, this bill will result in about 31,388 residents of western New York losing their health care coverage and increasing health care costs by 33 percent for the average couple who purchases Marketplace insurance with tax credits.—
Lauren Giella,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Bulldogs coach Laura Schuler said Saturday that Gascon was pulled from Friday’s game as a precaution, and that evaluations Friday night and Saturday morning proved Gascon was 100% ready to return for Saturday’s game.—
Matt Wellens,
Twin Cities,
26 Oct. 2025
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As a precaution, the Browns elevated Zappe from the practice squad to the active roster in case Sanders is unable to suit up.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preventative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventative. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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